Anti-sagging devices and assemblies for racking pallets

ABSTRACT

An anti-sagging device, configured to conform with a lightweight pellet, is described. Details of assemblies of a lightweight pellet and the novel anti-sagging devices are further described. An assembly of a lightweight pellet and the novel anti-sagging devices is characterized by superior structural firmness, so that upon placing the assembly onto two side-beams of a racking or shelving structure, the assembly effectively does not sag remains essentially planar or linear.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under the Paris Convention on United Kingdom Patent Application No. 1818339.2 filed on Nov. 11, 2018, the entire content of which is herein incorporated by reference

TECHNICAL FIELD

In general, the present invention pertains to the art of storage and transportation. In particular, the invention relates to anti-sagging devices and assemblies thereof, facilitating racking of pallets.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is believed that the current state of the art is represented by the following patent literature: U.S. Pat. No. 3,824,933, 6,053,466, 8,006,629, 9,592,929, U.S. D0798024, US2013180437, WO2011040758 and WO2013060900.

USD0798024 discloses a nestable pallet.

WO2011040758 discloses a lightweight pallet to be used in loading and unloading goods using a forklift truck. The lightweight pallet of WO2011040758 comprises: a pallet plate unit formed into the shape of a plate having an upper surface on which goods are loaded; a pallet rib unit bent upwardly or downwardly from the pallet plate unit to support the pallet plate unit; a thermally bonded unit formed by thermally bonding both sides of a rib at the intermediate portion of each rib in a lengthwise direction such that the ribs of the pallet rib unit have cohesive force in a lengthwise direction or a vertical direction; and a plurality of pallet support units bent downwardly from the pallet plate unit to support the pallet plate unit such that the pallet plate unit has a predetermined height.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,006,629 discloses a pallet includes an upper and lower deck. The upper deck in U.S. Pat. No. 8,006,629 includes snap-pin openings. First joining members in U.S. Pat. No. 8,006,629 project downwardly from the upper deck, with each first joining member including an outer sleeve surrounding a respective snap-pin opening. Second joining members in U.S. Pat. No. 8,006,629 project upwardly from the lower deck, with each second joining member including an inner sleeve and a snap-pin receiving cavity positioned therein. The inner sleeves receive the outer sleeves to define support blocks joining the upper and lower decks. Snap-pins are inserted into the snap-in openings in the upper deck. Each snap-pin includes a head for engaging a snap-pin opening, and spaced apart tips that extend through the snap-pin receiving cavity for engaging a backside of the inner sleeve associated therewith.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention was made in view of the deficiencies of the prior art and provides systems, methods and assemblies for overcoming these deficiencies. According to some embodiments and aspects of the present invention, there are provided anti-sagging devices and assemblies thereof, facilitating racking and/or shelving of pallets.

In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention there are provided anti-sagging devices and assemblies thereof, facilitating racking and/or shelving of light and/or lightweight pallets

In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention there are provided anti-sagging devices and assemblies thereof, facilitating racking and/or shelving of nestable pallets.

In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention there are provided anti-sagging devices and assemblies thereof, facilitating racking and/or shelving of light and/or lightweight nestable pallets.

In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention there are provided anti-sagging devices and assemblies thereof, facilitating racking and/or shelving of pallets, without substantially adding to the vertical dimension of the assembly.

In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention there are provided anti-sagging devices and assemblies thereof, facilitating racking and/or shelving of pallets, liftable by a forklift.

DEFINITIONS

The term pallet, as referred to herein, indicates pallets which typically have top and boards with runners therebetween, skids which typically have only top boards supported on runners and other such supporting devices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be understood and appreciated more comprehensively from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art lightweight pellet;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of an assembly of two nested prior art lightweight pellets;

FIG. 3A is an isometric view of an embodiment of an anti sagging device of the invention, for racking and/or shelving of pallets;

FIG. 3B is a front view of an embodiment of an anti-sagging device of the invention, for racking and/or shelving of pallets;

FIG. 3C is a top view of an embodiment of an anti-sagging device of the invention, for racking and/or shelving of pallets;

FIG. 3D is a bottom view of an embodiment of an anti-sagging device of the invention, for racking and/or shelving of pallets;

FIG. 4A is an isometric view of another embodiment of an anti-sagging device of the invention, for racking and/or shelving of pallets;

FIG. 4B is a front view of another embodiment of an anti-sagging device of the invention, for racking and/or shelving of pallets;

FIG. 4C is a top view of another embodiment of an anti-sagging device of the invention, for racking and/or shelving of pallets;

FIG. 4D is a bottom view of another embodiment of an anti-sagging device of the invention, for racking and/or shelving of pallets;

FIG. 5A is an isometric view of an assembly of prior art lightweight pellet and an embodiment of three anti-sagging devices of the invention;

FIG. 5B is an isometric view of an embodiment of three anti-sagging devices of the invention;

FIG. 6A is an isometric view of an assembly of prior art lightweight pellet and an embodiment of three anti-sagging devices of the invention;

FIG. 6B is an isometric view of an embodiment of three anti-sagging devices of the invention;

FIG. 7A is an isometric view of an assembly of prior art lightweight pellet and an embodiment of three anti-sagging devices of the invention;

FIG. 7B is an isometric view of an embodiment of three anti-sagging devices of the invention;

FIG. 8A is an isometric view of an assembly of prior art lightweight pellet and an embodiment of three anti-sagging devices of the invention;

FIG. 8B is an isometric view of an embodiment of three anti-sagging devices of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described below. In the interest of clarity, not all features of actual implementation are described in this specification. It will of course be appreciated that in the development of any such actual embodiment, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers' specific goals, such as compliance with technology- or business-related constraints, which may vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that the effort of such a development might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.

Prior to elaborating any embodiment of the present invention, in order to present the background for the inventive concept more clearly, reference is firstly made to FIGS. 1 and 2, showing prior art lightweight pellet 10 and nested assembly 20, of a plurality of prior art lightweight pellets 10A to 10E. Lightweight pellet 10 is typically made of a polymeric material, such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET), whether recycled or not.

Lightweight pellet 10 comprises upper surface plate 12, which optionally embodies a plurality of aperture patterns 14 or a plane monolithic surface, in the instance of skids. Lightweight pellet 10 comprises a plurality of legs 16, extending downwardly from upper surface plate 12. Legs 16 define void volume 18. The bottom face of legs 16 comprises apertures 22.

Lightweight pellets, such as pellet 10, are typically used for lifting and conveying goods, mounted on the pallet. However, occasionally, lightweight pellets, such as pellet 10, are used for presenting the goods to the customers, by placing the pallet on the floor or a shelf at the store and allowing customers to grab the goods directly from the pellet or skid.

As can be seen from FIG. 2, a plurality of lightweight pellets, such as lightweight pellets 10A and 10B, are optionally stacked one on top of another, in a nested arrangement stack 20. The legs 16 of superior pallet 10A are inserted into and accommodated within void volume 18 of the legs 16 of pallet 10B in stack 20. The nested stack 20 is configured for conveying a plurality of lightweight pellets in a compact form.

In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, reference FIG. 3A to 3D, showing anti-sagging device 30. Anti-sagging device 30 embodies an essentially beam resembling structure 32. Beam like structure 32 of anti-sagging device 30 optionally comprises a plurality of struts or fortification ribs 34, configured to confer structural firmness to anti-sagging device 30.

Beam like structure 32 of anti-sagging device 30 further comprises a plurality of notches 36. Notches 36 within beam like structure 32 of anti-sagging device 30 are configured to conform with and accommodate the legs of a lightweight pellet, such as legs 16 of lightweight pellet 10 shown in FIG. 1.

On the bottom face, notches 36 within beam like structure 32 of anti-sagging device 30 comprise connectors 38. The connectors 38 on the bottom face of notches 36 are configured for attaching to the apertures on the bottom face of the legs of a lightweight pellet, such as apertures 22 on the bottom face of legs 16 of lightweight pellet 10 shown in FIG. 1. The attachment mechanism of connectors 38 may vary from one embodiment to another. However the activation of connectors 38, namely the attaching of connectors 38 to the apertures on the bottom face of the legs of a lightweight pellet, is preferably performed by exerting a vertical compressing force onto the legs of a lightweight pellet, which is typically achieved by the pellet's own weight, such as by simply putting the legs of the lightweight pellet, such as legs 16 of lightweight pellet 10 shown in FIG. 1, into notches 36 within beam like structure 32 of anti-sagging device 30.

In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, reference FIG. 4A to 4D, showing anti-sagging device 40. Anti-sagging device 40 embodies an essentially beam resembling structure 42. Beam like structure 42 of anti-sagging device 40 optionally comprises a plurality of struts or fortification ribs 44, configured to confer structural firmness to anti-sagging device 40.

Beam like structure 42 of anti-sagging device 40 further comprises a plurality of notches 46. Notches 46 are configured to conform with and accommodate the legs of a lightweight pellet, such as legs 16 of lightweight pellet 10 shown in FIG. 1. Beam like structure 42 of anti-sagging device 40 preferably further comprises surrounding envelope enclosure 49, contributing to the structural stability as well as to an aesthetic effect of anti-sagging device 40. Beam like structure 42 of anti-sagging device 40 further comprises oval apertures 52, configured for accommodating the prongs (not shown) of a forklift (not shown).

On the bottom face, notches 46 within beam like structure 42 of anti-sagging device 40 comprise connectors 48. The connectors 48 on the bottom face of notches 46 are essentially similar to connectors 38 on the bottom face of notches 36 of anti-sagging device 30 shown in FIG. 3A to 3D.

Referring now to HG 5A and 5B, lightweight pellet 10 is appended towards an arrangement of three anti-sagging devices 30. Legs 16 of lightweight pellet 10 are inserted into notches 36 within beam like structure 32 of anti-sagging devices 30. Lightweight pellet 10 is then released and by the virtue of its own weight connectors 38 are snapped into apertures 22 on the bottom face of legs 16, thereby securing three anti-sagging devices 30 to lightweight pellet 10 and resulting in assembly 50.

Assembly 50 of pellet 10 and three anti-sagging devices 30 is characterized by superior structural firmness. Accordingly, upon placing assembly 50 onto two side-beams (not shown) of a racking and/or shelving structure, so that the side-beams (not shown) support only the terminal portions of the anti-sagging devices 30, assembly 50 effectively does not sag while been suspended from the terminal portions of the anti-sagging devices 30 placed on the side-beams (not shown) and remains essentially planar/linear.

Referring now to FIG. 6A and 6B, lightweight pellet 10 is appended towards an arrangement of three anti-sagging devices 60. Legs 16 of lightweight pellet 10 are inserted into notches 36 within anti-sagging devices 60. Lightweight pellet 10 is then released and by the virtue of its own weight connectors of anti-sagging devices 60 are snapped into apertures 22 on the bottom face of legs 16 of lightweight pellet 10, thereby securing three anti-sagging devices 60 to lightweight pellet 10 and resulting in assembly 70. Assembly 70 of pellet 10 and three anti-sagging devices 30 is characterized by superior structural firmness, so that the when side-beams (not shown) support only the terminal portions of the anti-sagging devices 60, assembly 70 effectively does not sag. Assembly 70 further can be lifted by a forklift (not shown), where oval apertures 52 sustaining a four-way lifting by a forklift (not shown).

Referring now to FIG. 7A and 7B, lightweight pellet 10 is appended towards an arrangement of three anti-sagging devices 80. Anti-sagging devices 80 comprise complete surrounding envelope enclosure 82, contributing to the structural stability as well as to an aesthetic effect of anti-sagging devices 80. Legs 16 of lightweight pellet 10 are inserted into notches 36 within anti-sagging devices 80. Lightweight pellet 10 is then released and by the virtue of its own weight connectors of anti-sagging devices 80 are snapped into apertures 22 on the bottom face of legs 16 of lightweight pellet 10, thereby securing three anti-sagging devices 80 to lightweight pellet 10 and resulting in assembly 90. Assembly 90 of pellet 10 and three anti-sagging devices 30 is characterized by superior structural firmness, so that the when side-beams (not shown) support only the terminal portions of the anti-sagging devices 80, assembly 90 effectively does not sag. Assembly 90 has a superior aesthetic effect, so that lightweight pellet 10 with anti-sagging devices 80 can be placed directly on the floor or a shelf at the store, thus allowing customers to grab the goods directly from pellet lightweight pellet 10.

Referring now to FIG. 8A and 8B, lightweight pellet 10 is appended towards an arrangement of three anti-sagging devices 40. Anti-sagging devices 40 comprise surrounding envelope enclosure 42, contributing to the structural stability as well as to an aesthetic effect of anti-sagging devices 40. Legs 16 of lightweight pellet 10 are inserted into notches 46 within anti-sagging devices 40. Lightweight pellet 10 is then released and by the virtue of its own weight connectors of anti-sagging devices 40 are snapped into apertures 22 on the bottom face of legs 16 of lightweight pellet 10, thereby securing three anti-sagging devices 40 to lightweight pellet 10 and resulting in assembly 100. As beam like structure 42 of anti-sagging devices 40 further comprise surrounding envelope enclosure 49, contributing to the structural stability of anti-sagging device 40, assembly 100 of pellet 10 and three anti-sagging devices 40 is characterized by superior structural firmness, so that the when side-beams (not shown) support only the terminal portions of the anti-sagging devices 40, assembly 100 effectively does not sag. As beam like structure 42 of anti-sagging device 40 further comprises surrounding envelope enclosure 49, contributing to an aesthetic effect of anti-sagging device 40, so that lightweight pellet 10 with anti-sagging devices 40 can be placed directly on the floor or a shelf at the store, thus allowing customers to grab the goods directly from pellet lightweight pellet 10. Beam like structure 42 of anti-sagging device 40 further comprises oval apertures 52, configured for accommodating the prongs (not shown) of a forklift (not shown), so that assembly 100 further can be lifted by a forklift (not shown), where oval apertures 52 sustaining a four-way lifting by a forklift (not shown). 

What is claimed is:
 1. An assembly of a lightweight pellet and a plurality of anti-sagging devices, comprises: (a) a lightweight pellet comprising: (I) an essentially plate shaped structure comprising a top and bottom surfaces; (II) a plurality of legs extending from said bottom surface of said plate structure; (III) a plurality of structural elements disposed on a bottom face of said legs; (b) a plurality of an anti-sagging devices, wherein each one of said anti-sagging devices comprises: (I) an essentially beam shaped structure; (II) a plurality of members selected from the group consisting of: struts and fortification ribs, configured to confer structural firmness to said essentially beam shaped structure; (III) a plurality of notches configured to accommodate at least two legs of said lightweight pellet, said notches comprising top and bottom surfaces; (IV) a plurality of connection mechanisms disposed on said top faces of said notches, said connection mechanisms are configured for fastening at least one of said plurality of said structural elements on said bottom surface of said at least two legs of said lightweight pellet; wherein upon activation of said connection mechanisms, said plurality of said structural elements on said bottom surface of said at least two legs of said lightweight pellet are fastened to said connection mechanisms on said top faces of said notches of said anti-sagging devices; wherein said activation of said connection mechanisms is performed by exerting a vertical compressing force onto said at least two legs of said lightweight pellet.
 2. The assembly, as in claim 1, wherein said vertical compressing force does not exceed a gravitational weight of said lightweight pellet.
 3. The assembly, as in claim 1, wherein said essentially beam shaped structure of said anti-sagging devices further comprises a plurality of oval apertures, configured for accommodating prongs of a forklift, thereby sustaining a four-way lifting of said assembly.
 4. The assembly, as in claim 1, wherein said essentially beam shaped structure of said anti-sagging devices further comprises a surrounding envelope enclosure, contributing to an aesthetic effect of said anti-sagging device.
 5. The assembly, as in claim 1, wherein said wherein said connection mechanisms are snapping fasteners.
 6. The assembly, as in claim 1, characterized by superior structural firmness, wherein upon placing said assembly onto two side-beams of a racking or shelving structure, wherein said side-beams of said racking or shelving structure support only terminal portions of said anti-sagging devices, said assembly effectively does not sag while been suspended from said terminal portions of said anti-sagging devices and remains essentially planar or linear.
 7. An anti-sagging device, configured to conform with a lightweight pellet, comprises: (a) an essentially beam shaped structure; (b) a plurality of members selected from the group consisting of: struts and fortification ribs, configured to confer structural firmness to said essentially beam shaped structure; (c) a plurality of notches configured to accommodate at least two legs of said lightweight pellet, said notches comprising top and bottom surfaces; (d) a plurality of connection mechanisms disposed on a top surface of said notches, said connection mechanisms are configured for fastening at least one structural element on a bottom surface of said at least two legs of said lightweight pellet; wherein upon activation of said connection mechanisms, said bottom face of said at least two legs of said lightweight pellet are fastened to said connection mechanisms; wherein said activation of said connection mechanisms is performed by exerting a vertical compressing force onto said at least two legs of said lightweight pellet.
 8. An anti-sagging device, as in claim 7, wherein said vertical compressing force does not exceed a gravitational weight of said lightweight pellet.
 9. An anti-sagging device, as in claim 7, wherein said essentially beam shaped structure further comprises a plurality of oval apertures, configured for accommodating prongs of a forklift, thereby sustaining a four-way lifting of said pallet.
 10. An anti-sagging device, as in claim 7, wherein said essentially beam shaped structure further comprises a surrounding envelope enclosure, contributing to an aesthetic effect of said anti-sagging device.
 11. An anti-sagging device, as in claim 7, wherein said connection mechanisms are snapping fasteners.
 12. An anti-sagging device, as in claim 7, wherein an assembly of at least two of said anti-sagging devices and said lightweight pellet is characterized by superior structural firmness, wherein upon placing said assembly onto two side-beams of a racking or shelving structure, wherein said side-beams of said racking or shelving structure support only terminal portions of said anti-sagging devices, said assembly effectively does not sag while been suspended from said terminal portions of said anti-sagging devices and remains essentially planar or linear.
 13. A method of racking lightweight pellets using anti-sagging devices comprises: (a) providing a lightweight pellet comprising: (I) an essentially plate shaped structure comprising a top and bottom surfaces; (II) a plurality of legs extending from said bottom surface of said plate structure; (III) a plurality of structural elements disposed on a bottom face of said legs; (b) providing a plurality of an anti-sagging devices, wherein each one of said anti-sagging devices comprises: (I) an essentially beam shaped structure; (II) a plurality of members selected from the group consisting of: struts and fortification ribs, configured to confer structural firmness to said essentially beam shaped structure; (III) a plurality of notches configured to accommodate at least two legs of said lightweight pellet, said notches comprising top and bottom surfaces; (IV) a plurality of connection mechanisms disposed on said top faces of said notches, said connection mechanisms are configured for fastening at least one of said plurality of said structural elements on said bottom surface of said at least two legs of said lightweight pellet; (c) assembling said lightweight pellet and said plurality of an anti-sagging devices, by exerting a vertical compressing force onto said at least two legs of said lightweight pellet; (d) activating said connection mechanisms, thereby fastening said plurality of said structural elements on said bottom surface of said at least two legs of said lightweight pellet to said connection mechanisms on said top faces of said notches of said anti-sagging devices; (e) racking an assembly of said lightweight pellet and said plurality of an anti-sagging devices onto a pair of side-beams, whereby said anti-sagging devices extend in-between said side-beams and said lightweight pellet essentially does not sag.
 14. The method, as in claim 13, wherein said vertical compressing force does not exceed a gravitational weight of said lightweight pellet.
 15. The method, as in claim 13, wherein said essentially beam shaped structure of said anti-sagging devices further comprises a plurality of oval apertures, configured for accommodating prongs of a forklift, thereby sustaining a four-way lifting of said assembly.
 16. The method, as in claim 13, wherein said essentially beam shaped structure of said anti-sagging devices further comprises a surrounding envelope enclosure, contributing to an aesthetic effect of said anti-sagging device.
 17. The method, as in claim 13, wherein said connection mechanisms are snapping fasteners.
 18. The method, as in claim 13, wherein said assembly characterized by superior structural firmness, wherein upon placing said assembly onto two side-beams of a racking or shelving structure, wherein said side-beams of said racking or shelving structure support only terminal portions of said anti-sagging devices, said assembly effectively does not sag while been suspended from said terminal portions of said anti-sagging devices and remains essentially planar or linear. 